KHAIRPUR, March 16: Ms Noor Khatoon Shar was shifted from Khairpur to an unknown location on Sunday, most probably Karachi, in view of the persistent threat to her life.

It has been learnt that the young woman was accompanied by district Nazim Nafisa Shah.

The possibility that Ms Noor was shifted to Islamabad could not be ruled out in view of the gravity of the situation.

Both the DPO, Tahir Naveed, and the district Nazim, Nafisa Shah, believe that there was a serious threat to the life of Ms Noor, adding that the silence, on part of her in-laws, reinforced those fears. They said that given the nature of the tribal culture in this area, retaliation on part of her in-laws could not be ruled out.

Her absence would make it impossible for the authorities to produce her before the judicial magistrate for recording her statement under section 164 of the CrPC, the DPO said, adding that even he did not know about her departure from the city till Sunday evening.

Those, who were handling Ms Noor’s case, declined to disclose details regarding the suit, filed by Ms Noor, for the annulment of marriage, fearing action by the woman’s in-laws.

According to investigations carried out by this correspondent, the present situation arose because of the couple being mentally incompatible.

The trouble began after Ms Noor and her husband, Sharaf Din, failed to get along ever since she had come to know that she was to be married to the man.

Reports suggested that there was no proper documentation regarding Ms Noor’s Nikah and her Nikahnama also did not bear signatures of the required number of witnesses, although her father insisted that her maternal uncle was one of the witnesses.

The situation became public knowledge after publication of a letter, which was faxed to a number of Sindhi newspapers followed by an identical missive sent to the district Nazim, DCO and the DPO.

The unsigned faxed letter prompted the DPO to take action.

Although Ms Noor denied having written and dispatched the anonymous letter to the media and officials simultaneously, she more or less confirmed the veracity of the contents of the letter, saying that she had somehow maintained her rapport with some of her friends, who, according to her, had helped her in this regard.

Ms Noor said that she had told them to approach the media if they found the situation taking a violent turn.

Local journalists believe that a clarification, issued by Ms Noor, denying her having written the letter, was prompted by the pressure exerted by her own parents.

Ms Noor’s father said that his daughter’s marriage with Sharaf Din, had been solemnized on June 23, 2002, following a family arrangement, adding that Noor Khatoon had expressed “100 per cent” willingness in this regard.

He accused the district Nazim of holding his daughter in illegal detention, he said that there was no court order in this regard.

While talking to Dawn at the district Nazim’s residence, Ms Noor said: “I would prefer to die than returning to my husband’s house.”

Ms Noor claimed that her father was also very upset as her in-laws could forcibly occupy her family’s farm land besides hurting them in many other ways.

Reports indicated that her parents had asked her to wait for some years before seeking a separation from her husband, which, according to her, seemed next to impossible.